> Ron Jeffries wrote:
>
> > I am no expert in martial arts, but here is my report. My point
> > isn't to change your mind, which I expect not to be possible, but to
> > offer a different viewpoint. My martial art is T'ai Chi,
> > ...
>
> I read Ron's message and have a similar story to report. My marital
> art was called "Salsa", and we practiced in a place called a
> "Studio". We met the same time every week, and our teacher helped us
> learn new skills and practice them. We also began with a ritual,
> whereby we all admired each others clothes and fitness.
>

Mine is called "Tango" and the location name in use is a "Practice". :-)

>
> So I agree with Ron that this was an excellent way to learn. Many of
> us met at organisations were we were encouraged to practice our
> techniques. Some later established partnerships based on this marital

^^^^^^^
Interesting semantic collision ;-)

So according to your/our examples, here is what defines a dojo:
1. a teacher, someone that can teach me new skills, correct me if I'm
wrong
2. a place, where I can practice those newly taught skills and
congregate with ...
3. people, like me, from which I can also learn and with which I can
interact, with ...
4. good will and respect.

Hi Ron, ... Nicely put. I have that goal for myself as well, and sometimes I even achieve it. OTOH, if I m trying to communicate and my choice of language

Message 2 of 11
, Aug 2, 2007

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Hi Ron,

> Now I don't feel strongly one way or another about the "Dojo"
> designation, which I take to be roughly equivalent to "Gym"
> (in the USA sense anyway), or "Classroom". What I do feel
> strongly about is that there is value to having a place of
> learning, where we set our minds to be open and to experience
> what is being offered. When I'm faced with some culturally
> foreign situation, I try to drop my automatic defenses and
> let the thing happen. Sometimes I succeed with that, and
> usually everything turns out just fine.

Nicely put. I have that goal for myself as well, and sometimes
I even achieve it. OTOH, if I'm trying to communicate and my
choice of language fails to connect with other folks, I find
it's usually more useful for me to adapt my language rather
than trying to stretch their level of acceptance. Of course,
the latter would be more convenient for me... if it worked...

I think it's good for programs and people to be generous in the
variations of input they will accept while putting fewer demands
on the generosity of those who must process their output.

Hi All, Hey, this has become a really cool chain :-). Thanks so much for all your answers. I have only had time to thoroughly read the first few, then skimmed

Message 3 of 11
, Aug 2, 2007

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Hi All,

Hey, this has become a really cool chain :-). Thanks so much for all your
answers. I have only had time to thoroughly read the first few, then skimmed
the rest (sorry for being a bad thread host).

This is very valuable to me and I will comb it for more juice later. For
now, I am grateful for your help.

I will have further questions or kudos when I get a change to digest it
(probably next week)

Bonne Weekende, toute le monde,

Michael

On 8/2/07, Arnaud Bailly <abailly@...> wrote:
>
> Robert Biddle <Robert_Biddle@... <Robert_Biddle%40Carleton.Ca>>
> writes:
>
> > Ron Jeffries wrote:
> >
> > > I am no expert in martial arts, but here is my report. My point
> > > isn't to change your mind, which I expect not to be possible, but to
> > > offer a different viewpoint. My martial art is T'ai Chi,
> > > ...
> >
> > I read Ron's message and have a similar story to report. My marital
> > art was called "Salsa", and we practiced in a place called a
> > "Studio". We met the same time every week, and our teacher helped us
> > learn new skills and practice them. We also began with a ritual,
> > whereby we all admired each others clothes and fitness.
> >
>
> Mine is called "Tango" and the location name in use is a "Practice". :-)
>
> >
> > So I agree with Ron that this was an excellent way to learn. Many of
> > us met at organisations were we were encouraged to practice our
> > techniques. Some later established partnerships based on this marital
> ^^^^^^^
> Interesting semantic collision ;-)
>
> So according to your/our examples, here is what defines a dojo:
> 1. a teacher, someone that can teach me new skills, correct me if I'm
> wrong
> 2. a place, where I can practice those newly taught skills and
> congregate with ...
> 3. people, like me, from which I can also learn and with which I can
> interact, with ...
> 4. good will and respect.
>
> Regards,
> --
> OQube < software engineering \ génie logiciel >
> Arnaud Bailly, Dr.
> \web> http://www.oqube.com
>
>
>